praxis reading language arts 5002 practice test

A series of tests developed by ETS to assess the skills and knowledge of prospective teachers.

As Lillian walked up the road, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the robin who was nearly always singing from the top of the oak tree. She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the branches, but when she looked again it was gone. Suddenly, Lisa, who Lillian regarded as a little sister even though they were really just neighbors, jumped down from the tree with glee from having surprised her friend. Lillian fell backward onto the grass with a thud. She looked up at Lisa and began to laugh. Both girls loved to trick each other.
Which of the following best describes the point of view of the passage?
  • A. Third-person limited
  • B. Third-person omniscient
  • C. First person
  • D. Second person
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

The passage employs a third-person limited perspective, focusing on the thoughts and feelings of one character while maintaining an objective distance from others. This allows readers to gain insight into that character’s experiences without knowing the inner workings of all characters. Option B, third-person omniscient, would provide a broader view of multiple characters' thoughts, which is not present here. Option C, first person, involves a narrator who is a character in the story, which is not the case. Option D, second person, addresses the reader directly using "you," which is also absent in the passage.

Other Related Questions

A student reads a story about a talking puppy who learns a valuable lesson about being a loyal friend. The story's description best matches the characteristics of which of the following types of stories?
  • A. Legends
  • B. Myths
  • C. Tall tales
  • D. Fables
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The story of a talking puppy learning about loyalty aligns with the characteristics of fables, which often feature animals as characters and convey moral lessons. Fables are designed to teach important values in a simple and engaging manner. Legends (A) typically involve historical figures or events and do not focus on moral lessons through animal characters. Myths (B) explain natural phenomena or cultural beliefs, often involving gods or supernatural elements, rather than personal growth. Tall tales (C) are exaggerated stories about real-life characters, emphasizing humor and larger-than-life adventures rather than moral teachings.
The following is an advertising slogan for a company that makes home security systems. "Are you secure enough to leave home?" The slogan makes use of which of the following techniques often used in advertising to attract the reader's attention?
  • A. Substituting slang for more formal expression
  • B. Making an unsubstantiated claim appealing to a sense of individuality
  • C. Highlighting a benefit by using an exclamatory sentence
  • D. Employing wordplay based on the use of double meanings
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The slogan "Are you secure enough to leave home?" employs wordplay through its use of double meanings, effectively engaging the reader. It prompts reflection on personal security while also suggesting a deeper emotional connection to safety and freedom. Option A is incorrect as the slogan does not use slang; it maintains a formal tone. Option B misrepresents the slogan's intent; it does not make an unsubstantiated claim but rather poses a thought-provoking question. Option C is also not applicable, as the slogan is not exclamatory and does not highlight a benefit in that manner. Thus, option D accurately captures the cleverness of the slogan's wording.
Which of the following most effectively combines the statements above into a single coherent and grammatically correct sentence?
  • A. Much of the Great Wall of China, which is actually a network of walls and towers, was built in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
  • B. The Great Wall of China, this is actually a network of walls and towers, much of it is built in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
  • C. Much of the Great Wall of China, building in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and it is actually a network of walls and towers.
  • D. Actually a network of walls and towers, they built much of the Great Wall of China in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Option A effectively combines the statements into a coherent sentence by using a relative clause ("which is actually a network of walls and towers") to provide additional information about the Great Wall of China without disrupting the main thought. Option B incorrectly uses a comma splice, creating two independent clauses that are improperly joined. Option C introduces a participial phrase that makes the sentence awkward and unclear, failing to maintain grammatical structure. Option D starts with a fragment, lacking a clear subject, and misattributes the building of the wall, leading to confusion about who built it.
Which of the following best explains how fluency can improve reading comprehension?
  • A. Fluency encourages readers to focus on accuracy rather than speed.
  • B. Fluency means readers can effectively process ideas in a linear order.
  • C. Fluency allows readers to recognize words and understand them at the same time.
  • D. Fluency helps readers concentrate on decoding words rather than understanding concepts.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Fluency enhances reading comprehension primarily by enabling readers to recognize words and understand their meanings simultaneously. This automaticity frees cognitive resources for deeper comprehension. Option A is misleading; while accuracy is important, fluency emphasizes both speed and accuracy, not prioritizing one over the other. Option B, while partially correct, oversimplifies fluency by suggesting a linear processing of ideas, which does not capture the complexity of comprehension. Option D incorrectly implies that fluency hinders understanding by focusing on decoding, whereas true fluency integrates decoding with comprehension, enhancing overall understanding.